Phil Matier: Jerry Brown For President?

California Governor Jerry Brown looks on before delivering the State of the State address at the State Capitol on January 31, 2011 in Sacramento. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Could Governor Jerry Brown be mulling over another run for the White House? The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Brown has not ruled out the possibility in 2016, and he’s getting some pressure to consider it.

It’s a political rule to never say never, especially when it comes to saying you’re never running for another office.

What we’ve really got here is a mood amongst some Democrats around the country that says Hillary Clinton is the only runner on the Democratic ticket. But what happens if she stumbles or decides not to run?

Jerry Brown for President?

I don’t think that’s going to happen, but if not Hillary, then who? The next pick would be Vice President Joe Biden, but I don’t think he’s Mr. Bubbly nor will he capture the hearts and minds of America out of the gate.

There’s a lot of history between the Clintons and Jerry Brown and it’s mostly bad. Brown ran for president three times already. In 1992 he ran against Bill Clinton and really went after him on ethics. He raised questions about Hilary working in the Arkansas law firms when Clinton was governor.

The two were not friendly and Brown embarrassed Clinton on national TV, though they made up a bit as politicians do, but there’s no love lost between the Clintons and the Browns.

Brown is in his mid 70s, and only four years older than Joe Biden. What you have to factor in is that running for president is a massive undertaking. I think he’s happy with what he’s doing in the State of California and I don’t see him running for president.

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Whether it's politics, personalities or analysis Phil Matier is one of best informed insiders in the Bay Area.
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